Chapter: Testing Limits
Adam had left Atlas monts ago, leaving the restrained man alone in the dim, decrepit room.
The faint creaks of the dilapidated building seed to echo louder in Atlas’s mind as he sat there, bound tightly to the chair.
His heart pounded, though he tried his best not to let his fear show. Inside, however, he was a ss, every mont of silence amplifying his paranoia.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the hollow space. Adam returned, his imposing figure erging from the shadows with a large leather bag slung over his shoulder.
The sheer size of the bag made Atlas’s stomach churn with unease. "What is that for?" he blurted out, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound brave. "What are you planning to do?"
Adam didn’t answer imdiately. He walked over with deliberate slowness, dragging the bag along the floor.
The faint scraping sound only heightened Atlas’s anxiety. Adam placed the bag on the floor with a soft thud and sat down in the chair he had occupied earlier, directly facing Atlas.
Crossing his legs casually, Adam leaned forward slightly. "Why so scared?" he asked mockingly, his distorted voice calm yet piercing. "Relax. I’m not going to torture you—much."
He reached for the bag, his fingers slowly unzipping it. The sound of the zipper seed unbearably loud to Atlas, who watched every movent with wide, terrified eyes.
The sight of Adam fiddling with the bag was too much for Atlas. His nerves snapped, and he yelled, "Are you insane? You attacked us first! We were just defending ourselves!" His voice cracked, betraying his rising panic.
Adam ignored the outburst, his expression unreadable behind the mask. He continued working on the bag, his silence only fueling Atlas’s agitation. "Don’t co near !" Atlas shouted again, trying to mask his fear with anger.
Then it hit him—his powers. He still had them. Though restrained, he could use his abilities to protect himself.
Summoning his resolve, he focused all his energy on activating his power. Just as Adam’s hand reached into the bag, a shimring blue barrier materialized around Adam, separating him from bag.
The barrier expanded outward, encapsulating Adam in a glowing do that stopped just inches away from the bag. Atlas grinned triumphantly, his confidence montarily restored. "Finally!" he exclaid. "I’ve got you now!"
Atlas didn’t waste a second. He began wriggling against the ropes binding him, trying to free himself. The blue glow of the barrier pulsed faintly as he focused on his escape, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
But Adam, still sitting within the barrier, seed unfazed. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, observing Atlas with calm detachnt.
"You’ve forgotten sothing important from our last fight," Adam said casually, his voice cutting through the tense air.
The words made Atlas freeze mid-struggle. A mory flashed in his mind—his last battle with Adam. The teleportation. That infernal ability Adam had used to evade every attack, to outmaneuver the entire team, to exploit every weakness. His smile faltered.
He turned his head slowly, just in ti to see Adam disappear from the chair in a blur of faint light.
Before Atlas could process what had happened, a sharp blow struck the side of his face.
Adam’s foot connected with brutal precision, sending Atlas and the chair tumbling to the floor. The chair clattered loudly against the cold, hard ground, and Atlas groaned in pain as his head hit the floor.
For a mont, all he could hear was the ringing in his ears. The pain in his cheek throbbed, radiating down to his jaw. He tried to gather himself, but the disorientation was overwhelming.
Lying sideways, his face pressed against the dirty floor, Atlas winced as he pushed against the ground with his bound hands, trying to stabilize himself.
His breathing was ragged, his body trembling from the shock of the sudden attack.
"You won’t get away with this!" Atlas shouted, his voice hoarse and filled with desperation. He glared up at Adam, who now stood above him, his presence as nacing as ever. "Once my team finds , they’ll make you pay for this! You hear ? They’ll destroy you!"
Adam didn’t respond imdiately. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering Atlas’s words.
Behind the mask, a faint smirk curled on his lips. He knew Atlas’s team wasn’t coming—not anyti soon. Adam had ensured that.
The silence only infuriated Atlas further. "You think you’re untouchable?" he continued, his voice rising with frustration. "My team has soone who can track energy signatures! He’s probably on his way right now!"
Adam finally broke his silence, his tone calm and almost amused. "Is that so?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock curiosity.
Of course, Adam knew exactly who Atlas was referring to. During his previous battle with the Commission, he had encountered their energy tracker—a wiry, sharp-eyed boy who had been a constant thorn in Adam’s side. But Adam also rembered the boy’s limitations.
The tracker’s range was capped at 200 ters, a weakness Adam had exploited to great effect. It was a flaw that ensured Atlas’s team would remain clueless about his location. Adam was in complete control of the situation, and he knew it.
Atlas, still lying on the floor, began to feel the cracks in his resolve. Adam’s lack of reaction, his unshakable composure, was more unnerving than any physical attack. For all his bluster, Atlas was starting to doubt his own words.
Why hadn’t his team arrived yet? How long had it been since his capture? He couldn’t tell. Ti felt warped in this cold, desolate building. A sinking feeling began to settle in his chest.
Without a word, Adam stepped closer, his boots echoing ominously against the floor. He crouched down, his masked face inches from Atlas’s. "Save your breath," Adam said quietly, his voice low and nacing. "You’re going to need it."
Atlas stared back, his bravado completely shattered. For the first ti, true fear flashed in his eyes.
Adam stood and walked away, his footsteps fading into the shadows. Atlas was left alone once more, his mind racing with uncertainty and dread. Bound and helpless, he could do nothing but wait.
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